Sausage-twisting device



June 19, 1923.

1,459,066 F. KRUsE y SAUSAGE TWISTING DEVICE Filed OCT.. 2l 1922 A TTORNE YS.

4 sheets-sheet '1 June y19, 1923.

1,459,066 F. KRUSE sAusAGE TwIsTING DEVICE Filed oot. 21 1922 4 sheets-sheet 2 A TT ORNE YS June i9, 1923. v1,459,066

F. KRUSE SAUSAGE TWISTING DEVICE Filed Oct. 2l 1922 4 Sheets-Shes?l 5 A TTORNEY5` June 19, 1923.

1,459,066 F. KRUSE SAUSAGE TWISTING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented June 19 1923.

FERDINAND Kan-sn, or roar i i:oiiMoND, New-Yoeri.`

sAUsAGE-rwisrine Di'ivior..

Application iiledv October 21, 1922. Serial No. 595,839.v

ToA all whom 'it mag/concern.'

Be it known-that I,`FERD1NND'KRUSE,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Port Richmond, county of Richmond, and `State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ySausage- Twisting Devices, of y which the following is a specification.

The principal object of this invent-ion is to yimprove upon the construction of the sausage \^twisting-machines shownfand described in my prior applications for patents, Serial No. 461,879, filed April 16, 1921, Serial No. 479,461, filed June 22, 1921, SerialNo.

528,623, filed January 12, l1922, and Serialy No. 559,156, ined May s, i922.- v

Considered more specifically a further object of this invention vis to provide an iin-` proved construction for opening 'and clos` ing theI belts tov pe-rmitI the convenient insertion or removal of the sausage casing between the spaces 'between the opposed f chine, without any loss of time to thread "the casingthrough the machine.` A further object is tol provide an `improved resilient mounting for certain fof the end formers whereby they will yield inwardly to prevent eXcessive tension upon the casings due Vto the shortening thereof by the twisting operation. y

Another objectisto provide power means for operating` the machine and to incor# porate an automatically operating clutch, to

4v'render the connection between the power l means and the machine inoperative aftera predetermined operation 'of the belts sufficient to .accomplish the twisting of the casings and a further object is to provide a means for squeezing the casings which will lbe v automatically operated to *compress the y casings simultaneouslywitli the actuation of the power control to start the machine r and which squeezing vmeanswill b'e released before the twisting operation is completed thereby preventing breakage of the casings."

For the accomplishment of these and such further objects as will hereinafter`- be parent to those'A skilled inthe-art to which this appertains, the invention consists'in the construction, combination ment `of partsherein specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying `draw@ ings, wherein is shown a `preferred embodiand arrange'- thescope of the claims hereunto appended.

ln the drawings, forming a portion' of this specification.

Fig.` lis a pla-n view of the machine, the central part being broken away.

Fig. 2

is a. section` on the line2-e2- 'of the line 3 3 of Fig. 1"."kry l' A Fig. 4 is a section ov fa reduced scaleon the line 4-4 of Fig'. 2, and showingr t-he` beltsin open yorinoperative position.l i i Fig. ,5 is a. view similar to Fig. 4, showing y -y Fig. 3' is a section on a reduced scale' on the belts in closed or operative position.

Fig.VV 6 4is asection on the linev 641-6 off 'Fig.`4. "A

Fig. 7 is a plan view offthe separate` frame iiponwhich the casings arethreaded before placing them in the machine.

Fig. I-8 is a broken sectional letailon the" i linev 8 8 of Fig. 7

formers. y

Fig. `9jisa detail in elevation of oneend showing the 'Y end ofthe sepa-rate fram'ei showing 'thejmeans" for operating the end formers and thefcoop-` erating locating means on the niachinea-nd' separate frame@ L l fj Fig.. 10 av diagrammatic showing of the `r relative positions' of the separate frame and position, and

Fig'. 11'is a view ysimilar `t0 Fg- 10ay Show' 'i in?.` the Parts in Operative position' i i I' intermediate formers when in inoperativek icc 'I Fig. l1'2fis a modification in side elevav tion showing different type of former blades and power means for'driving "themachine.` ff Fig. 13 is a. sect'on on vtheline13`13 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14v is adetail in front elevation of the Y 1 i Ineansfor reversing the travel ofthe/belts position shown in Fig. r4, and

to `cause them to be moved to the inoperative Fig7 15 is ya detail lanofillustratingfthe construction of the lformer blades.

65 I ment of the invention, but it is to be under# i stood that` changes,` variations' and `modifications mayl `b'e'resortedtor whichfall within` As shown in Figs. 1 to 11 of the drawings, a main frame is composed of the side members 15 and 16, intermediate members 19 and end members 17 and 18secured as by the posts 20 (see Fig. 2)' to any suitable support such as indicated by the numeral 21.

Extending transversely through the side and intermediate members are a plurality `of shafts 22 upon which are rotatably mounted the sleeves 23 and 24. A plurality' ofiendless belts 25A are arranged in parallel series as shown in Fig. 1 off the drawing, the series being-,indicated by the letters H, B,.C and D in Figs. 1 and 3. The belts 25 are preferably provided with av plurality ofapertures 25'al to furnish a better gripping surface which will not only prevent slippage betweenthe rolls and the belt but also between the belts and .the sausages. ln order not to obscure they drawings only a few of' such apertures are indicated on part ofthe surface of one of the belts, it being understood that all the belts will be so apertured over their whole area. The belt driving rollers 26 of the series A and C are secured directly to the shafts 22 while the driving rollers 27 for the series B and D lare secured to the sleeves 23 and 24. Suitable gear trains as indicated by the numerals 28, 29 and 30 are provided for drivingl the rollers 26 and 27 said gearing being driven in a manner similar to that disclosed in my prior copending vapplications and comprising a handle 31 to actuate a shaft 32, which is provided with suitable worms 28a meshing with the worm gears 28, while shafts33 extend transversely across adjacent the ends of the machine and are provided with gearsv 34 and 35 adapted to mesh with and drive the gear trains 29 and 30 respectively. The gearing is arranged to drive the 'sleeves 23 and 24 in the same direction but opposite to the rotation of the shafts 22. Instead of a train of spur gears such as indicated by the numerals 29 and 30, I may substitute therefor sprocket chains and a plurality of sprocket gear. Each of the intermediate frame members 19 is provided with a slot 36 in which is snugly received the intermediate former members 37, the slots 36 being of sufficient depth to hold the former members 37 in a vertical positionfbut permitting the former members to be removed therefrom when necessary for cleaning purposes. The intermediate former members 37 are provided with a plurality of equally spaced V shaped notches 38 said notches being arranged in transverse alignment with the spaces between the verticall reaches of adjacent belts 25. Spaced equally between the V shaped not-ches and in alignment with the shafts 22 are a number of pairs of brackets 397 the members of each pair being arranged upon each side of the belts 25. The lower ends of the brackets are suitably secured to the main frame members and pivotally mounted between the upper ends of each pair of brackets is an upper roll carrying frame consisting of the side pieces 40 and the transverse rods 41. Each of the rods 41 is iixedly secured to the side pieces 4U and has rotatably mounted thereon an idler roll 427 thev rods being tapered as indicated at 43 to hold the belts centrally of the brackets 39. Suitable stops 44 are provided on each of the brackets 39 for a. purpose which will hereinafter apy pear. Y

ifi lifting frame is provided and comprises the side members 45` and end members 46.

The side members 45 are of angle sha Je toy provide a chaunelled track 47 on which is adapted to travel the anti-friction rollers 48niounted in brackets 49 secured to theside members 50, of a separate frame, said side members 50 being connected by the endmem.-

bers 51. Extending longitudinallybetween.

the end members 51 are a number of sausage supporting members 52 which are Aprovided with a plurality of spaced notches. 53 said notches being spaced so as to align with the spaces between the belts 25 and with the..` 4

V shaped notches 38. Secured at intervals along they side ymembers 50 of the separate-v vsprings 58 connect the ends of the rods 57 `with studs 59 projectingy from-ends of the separate frames and normally hold the reds 57 in engagement with the stops 60 mounted upon the side members 50i rllhe purpose of this construction is Vto hold the end foi-mers normally in position shown at vthe left hand side of Fig. 8 but permitting ,the formers to yield inwardly to prevent undue tension upon the casings due to the shortening of the casings caused by the twisting thereof.

The end foi-mers along one'side of the machine namely the right hand side in Figs. 7 and 8, are provided with a special; mount,- ing to permit the formers to be released and moved downwardly to the position shownv members `50 and are-providedlwith a hook,l

' portion 62 `with which is adaptedto be e`n-` gaged a locking bar 63 extending longitudinally and in parallelism with the. side meme ber 50. The lockingbar is secured to one end of the links 64 `(see Fig. 7,)pivoted as f at 65 to the endmembers `5iliand' isprovided at one end with an actuating handle 66,. Coil springs 67 connect the other ends of the links 64 with the-end members 51 and normally hold the-locking bar in positionto engage the hingemembers 61 andfto hold the end fcrmers in operativeposition.. The movable foi-mers 68 (seeFigQ) which cooperate with thefintermediate formers'37 in the modification shown in Figs. `1 to 11r lare mounted upon the lifting frame,l to the` side members 45 of which are secured spacing bars orwbrackets 69 between 4the `upper* ends of which extend the rods 7 O. Secured to and. extending transversely to the rods 70 and in valignment with the intermediate formers 87 are-the movable .formersg68ff p Means are provided for raising anollofw-y ering the lifting frame and with it the mov-V able former bladesy 68 1 and comprises the operating arms 71 (seelTigs',.y l' and 2)y ser cured yto the shafts r72 in` alignmentwith the v'end members v46 ofthe ylifting fra1ne,'there curedto and depending from the side memer Abeing two shafts 72connected to `mpve `unison'by means ofthefbevel `gears 48 and the transverse shaft'74. Eachof the operating'arms`71 is provided with any actuating handle 7 'there beingftwo arms upon each shaft 72 and 71, a suitable `stop 7 5a being.

provided to limittth'e movementv of the arms 71. The upperfeiids of the arms1'f7l have pivoted thereto the stirrups 76vw'hichen- `gage around the lifting `frame end members'l 46 and serve toV force the movable former` blades 68 downwardlyinto the casings when Means for guidingfthe liftbers 45. The guide rods'77 pass between and are engaged bythefguide rollers 7 8"rotatably mounted on studs 79 securedtozthe end membersl7 ofthe mainframe;y

Y Each ofthe tracks 47 of the lifting frame side members 45 is provided with a pair ofy Vdepressions 8O,` each of which'is situated adjacent the ends of the members 45 and-serve as stops or locating [means `to Vv`engage vthe rollers 48 and hold the' separate frame with tliercasings thereon in alignment'with Athe rspaces between the belts 25* and the "Vf` shaped notches 38 of the intermediate form! The movable former blades are pref- "'vious'lywill tend'fto shorten andplacefan' 'undue ten'sion'upo'n" them. causinglthem to" ers. erably provided with the small notches 81 as shown in Figll.l

. The 'operationof the modification' shown in Figs. l to 11 is as follows The machine is preferably situated adjacent a workbench soy that the tracks 46 ofl thelift'ing frame will be inthe-same .ho'riei zontal yplaneas `the tops of the, bench with v the lifting frame-is` inthe l,upper y position Anu/mber of separateiframesjareprovidedfl s yupon which a worlnnan'will'ithread the cas- .v

ingsbefore they are placed in the machine;A

'z It `will be understoodfthat the endfor'mersf will be locked iny opera-tive positionwby :the1

Assuming l that the lifting framed-is yraised locking bar 68 and `that the casingswill p' placed. in fthe 'notches 453 ofthe supporting l5' vmembers 52 and passed around and engaged` within the #.notchesin `theend forniers.` i

`as shown in Fig. 2,.'theseparateframelis f then rolled into the ymachine with the'rollers 380 i 48 `engaging the track 47. 'glhe .Y vchannelled' f5" ing downwardly between the lspaces between'.

shape of'vr the track 47 will:insure-the'proper :stransverse positioningof'they separate" framef` 1?; if v. y and lthev rollers 48 engagingwith the deL-g I "pressions 80. ywillpro'perly position the seiner-#2&5U i' rate frame 'longitudinally of the]machine;KA n The .handlesv arethen kactuated to .lower 1l' i the lifting' framev andthe separate frame supportedthereby, the sausage casi'ngs'fpassi- '`0g4 the. belts `and"resting within the V notches` 88 in the vintermediate y. formersiw The `con-x` tinued actuation of thehandles75 will 'then l ybring the` movable: former bladesvdown l into engagement with the `casings and willfpress` the sausage `meat into thecasings ltoeach-A41 side of the rfori'ners."- v'After the-lifting frameligf n has been moved tothe downwardlimit of its! 'i travelithe'handle82de then lrotated a few i i turns'to operate the belts 25.- ,'lheirst-rno-A tionfof the yhandle :32totu-rnthe belts 25' in f y loof v thel direction ofthe "arrow l13,' Fig." lgwill,y i y causel the belts which we'willassumefhave `f been'in the 'open inoperative'pos-itinsshown' i finhfigullfto rotate the top roller framcsupon` l their pivotal points and'cau'se the top!4 roller fmmes 0f HOVeto `thepositi'on 'shown' in* 'i y frames is caused-'by the frictional drag upon' t' l the non rotatable A'-rod's41 the movement c1610' Fig#` This movement of,` thetop roller' of thebelts Q5 andy eil'ectivelyfcausesthe `ro- 'gj tation of timeframes',` thestopsi44vseiwingv limit the movement of the top-roller frames the opposing faces or'verticalreachesofthev and that to the positionslshownin ligs.` 4"`and5f.y 1114i r belts iii-1lb@ 'moved moppen@ direction-j the beltslof y the 'iseiji'ggn 31A: f. 1 f and C willrotate oppositely. tojvthe' be1tS-.Of

series Band D. yIf the casingsyhave been' i threadedupon the separate framefwith little *p or'no slackn thel twisting ofthe lcasings,4 ob-v i' break. lIn orderto obviate thisobj'ectionable y l' feature,l the pivotal mounting-` ofrthene'nd formers 54fin combination vwith theI springs n e'ect. After a few turns of the handle 72 have beenV given to turn the belts vin the direction indicated by the arrowV 13, Fig. 1, the handle is givenk a sufficient reverse rotation to turn the belts in the direction'v of the arrow R in F ig. 5, the frictional drag of the belts upon the rods 41 moving the top roller frames back tothe position shown in It1 ig. f1.

The handles 7 5 are then actuated to raise the lifting frameA to its upper position and the separate frame may then be slid outwardly from the machine preferably byin-l to leave a clear space, so thatwhenthe framey holding twisted sausages is removed from the machine it may so beA placed'over a smoke stick to causethe central parts of the casings to be directlyover the smoke stick. 'The smoke stick is then lifted to engage the twisted sausages which are then raised by the stickclear of the frame and are carried to the smoke house.

Referring tothe modification shown in Figs. 12 to 15, the construction of vthe frame.`

work of the machine, the manner ofinounting and releasing the belts, and the driving means therefor are similar to that shown and described in Figs. l'to'l 11 inclusii'fez Means are provided for operating the machine by power and automatically cutting' out the power drive at the end of a prede termined movement as follows:

' Secured upon the shaft 32 at any suitable pointis a sprocketwheel 90 whichis conn'ectedv by `means of sprocket -chain 91 and sprocket 92 secured to countershaft 93; Ro-v tatably mounted cn countershaft 93 is f a worin gear Sill-meshing with a Aworm 95 upon 4a transverse shaft'96, which is actuated by any suitable power means. Projecting inwardly from the face of worm 'gear 94 isa lug 9T which'is adapted to be engaged by a plunger 98, slidable ylongitudinally within a suitable pocket 99 in a member 100 secured to shaft 93. A spring` 101 isv placed' between the end of plunger 98 and the bottom of pocket 99 to normally urge the plun ger 98 towards worm gear 94 in position to be engaged by the lug 97.

Plunger 98 is cut away to providea shoulder 102 with which the curved, tapered, cani face'103 ofa rod 1011 is adapted to entrave i L, o D

and withdraw. the plunger out of the path placed upon a work bench, the 'han-` groove 105, cut vtherein in whichfthevlower g curved tapered cam face 103` of rod- 104A frides. Rod 104C is pivoted intermediate lits ends as at 106 to` the support 20 and has seH cured to its outer end one'end of the spring 107, the other end of which is anchored to any suitable stationary support; The inner end of rod 101fhasvsecured theretov in any suitableinanner, as by slotf10sa and plate 1011]), the outer end of one arin'109 of a bell crank lever pivoted as at 110 to a bracket 111 extending downwardly from the main frame of the machine. r he other arm 112 of the bell crank lever extends upwardly and terminates ina handle V113 at a convenient po-l sition to be grasped by the operator.

Manual means are provided to cause a rcverse movementof the belts 25 opposite vto that produced by the power drivev and may consist of a handle 1111 rotatably mounted on shaft 32. Handle 114 has pivoted'theie to a spring pressed pawl 115`adapted to ena ratchet wheel 116 secured to the shalt 32, a curved arm 117- being provided to re` lease Ypawl 115 at any suitable point to prevent tlie handle frombeing'carried around with the ratchet wheel116` when the power drive is operative. Y

The intermediatefformer elements shown in F ig. 12 differ from those shown inFigs.

eo i

1 to 11 and consist of the plates 120 and 121YK a mounted to slide longitudinally of the machine. rEhe plate 120 has a plurality of up wardly projecting formers 120L and the plate 'which have one end bent laterally to stand .in alignment `longitudinally of the machine with the formers 120m.y Each one of the formers 120a and 121@ form a cooperatingmember of a. pair having their rropposed operative meeting faces rounded as shown and the cooperatingr rmembers of each pair are adapted when'the'plates'are moved longL tudinallyv to occupy the dottedfline position shown in F ig. 1 5, the meeting faces being' in contact substantiallyqin alignment with the center of the space between the opposed faces of the belts .25. It Awill be'u'nderstood i that there arethree pairs of plates 120 and 121, a pair being located between yeach hori-y Zontal series of belts 25, Each ofthe plates `120 are connected lby means of ar link 123v with one end of a lever 124 the other end of.v which is connected by rmeans of a link 125 with the cooperating plate 121. Leve-N124@ are secured upon a transverse shaft 126 hav- 121.h'as aplurality of similar formers V121"l iio ing its outer end 'adjacent the arm 112 of e bell crank lever 109,` from the side of which projects a pin 127 engaging within an elongated slot 128 formedin a link 129. Link 129 is pivotally connected with an arm 130 extending radiallyfrom and secured to the shaft and springs 131 are provided to ,normally hold'the plates in 'full line or open.

position.

.The operation of the modification-shown in Figs. 12 to 15 is as 'Eollowsz-T-Shaft 96 and worin 95 being continuously rotating will cause worm gear 94 to rotate `on shaft 93.

Spring 107 will hold lever 104 normally-in position to cause` the tapered. 'cam tace 103 of the lever tobe in engagement with shoulder 102 and hold plunger 98 retracted and'outoif If it is desired to startv the path of lug 97. l the .machine handle 113 .is pulled in the directiono'f thearrow in Fig. 12,.tliis will v- 15. cause arm 4109 of the bell crank lever to vpress downwardly on the inner end of the .lever 104 moving it about its pivot 105 and raising cam face 103 from shoulder. 102, thus permitting plunger 98 under the iniiuence of Ytating shaft 32 through` sprockets 90, 92v and .cha-in 91, and driving. the .belts 25. .As

c ro

spring 101 tov move into the path 'of lug 97.

As lug 97 engages plunger 98, member 100 and shaft 93 will be rotated, thus rohandle 113 is released spring 107 will move and hold the cam tace 103 int-ofgroove 105 and withdraw plunger 98 outof the pathof l the; dotted line positions, thussqueezing and constructing the casings'to divide them into links of the desired length. Ashthehandlej is releasedthe springs 107, 131, will causetheformers to `be released before the twisting operationhas been completed,'thus` simulating the twisting operationv as per-.

ot endlessbelts,i meansto rotate said belts and meansltocause the .opposed cooperating formed by hand and preventingv breakage of the casings by relieving the strain upon them during the inal twisting.` As the belts i inY the form shown in Figs 12 toy V15 are vmounted in the same manner as those shown 4'fin Figs. 1 to 11,'the first `movement of the shaft 32 will cause the idlerrolls 42 to be y `swung into lhorizontal alignmer'itl and as the sausage casin'gs will not be `engaged by Athe belts until they have moved; to the closed.

position, the squeezing of the casings will takeV place .before thetwisting and fthey f vsingle rotation of the shaft93 because oi? the gear ratio of sprockets 90, 92.(will cause about three rotations of shaft 32 whichwill be'suflicient to twist'the casings, the belts stopping automatically atthe end vof a complete rotation of shaft 93 by the withdrawal of plunger 98 by cam` Jface 103 of lever 104.

After the stoppage of' the belts )25 the [handle 114is moved "upwardly about a quarter of av turn to rotate the `shaft 32 in fthe opposite direction to that causedv by the `power drivethus moving the idlers 42k tothe x 1' i. 'y' `1. In asausage twisting machine, sausage twisting means,means to operate said sau- .sage twisting means, and means to; automata-.

vertical position and i opening the Vbelts in 7.

:the manner 'described -in .connection with Figs. y1.to 11.

"When then-handle 114 is released? it will dropfdownwardly, pawl. 115 slipping, over the teeth of ratchet'l Wheel 116,

untilthe pawlstrikes the end of curved arm :117, which will hold the pawl disengaged i during the power*drivingfofthebelts. ,l v

`cally stop the operation of said twisting means after f a predeterminedy movement thereof. Y. 1 "'f` 2. In a sausage. twisting-machine, 'apluf rality of endless belts, power means to drive .y said belt, means to connect saidpower means v /in driving relationto said belts and'means to automatically` disconnect said power;

meansvfrom .said belts ,after a `predeter?V mined movement of the belts..

y. 3. In a sausage twisting machine, a plurality of Aendlessbelts,`power means todrive l said belts, manuallyfoperable means to vconnectsa'id. power means* in driving,relation,` 'to said belts and means toqautomatically disconnect saidpower means from said belts faces of the `members 4ot' eachl pair to be moved towards and from each other to en.-

Agage or disengage the sausage'casing bythe rotation. of said belts.;

5; In a sausage twisting machine, a pair surfaces of the belts to be moved towards or 6. In a` sausage twisting machine. a Ipair of'endless *belts` `driving rollsand yidler rolls aboutwhichsaid belts are trained andmeans to cause the opposedI cooperating 'surfaces of .said belts to lbe moved bythe friction bey *tween 'said-belts and rolls towardsor from `from each other by' the rotation of said belts'.`

each other to engage or disengagethe saui sage casing.; n

f 7. Inasausage about which `said .belts *are4 trained 'and lmeans to .cause theopposed cooperating sur- 4faces yofsaidv beltsv to be moved towards eachv `other by the frictional effect between said y l twistingmachinma pairv otendless belts, driving rolls `and idler rolls 8. In a sausage twisting. machine, a pair f of endless belts, driving rolls and idlerrolls about whichsaid belts are trained,fbeltfro.

tating74 means comprising. means to drive said belts in one direction and-means to 1e' 'surfaces of tlie belts to be moved by the :trictional drag of said belts into and out of engagement with thev sausage casings.

9; ln a sausage-twisting machine, a pair of endless belts, driving rolls for said belts,

a pair of idler rolls for each belt, a pivotally mounted trame 'for each-belt upon whichsaid idler rolls are mounted, adapted to be moved upon its pivot by the rictional drag Aol? the belts, said trame constructed and arranged to cause said idler rolls to move the opposed cooperating surfaces or said. belts into and out of engagement vwith the sausage' casings by the movement of said frame about its pivot. A

10. vIn a sausage twisting machine, a pair of 'endless belts, drivingrolls and idler rolls about which said belts are trained, a pivotally mounted 'frameupon which 'certain of said rolls are mounted, stop means to hold said 'frame in positions substantially parallel to and'transverse to the reaches of said belts, said rame'constructed and arranged' to move the opposed operative reaches of the belt towards each other as the frame is moved to the transverse position and away 'from each other as the frame is moved'to the parallel position. l

11. In a sausage twisting machine, a pair of endless belts, driving rolls and idler rolls about which said belts are trained, a pivotally lmounted frame for each belt upon which said idler rolls are mounted, means to rotate said belts, means tocause said frame to be moved upon its pivotal axis by the trictional drag ot said belts. and means to stop the movement ot said trame in either ot, two positions in -one of which positions the trame is held substantially in alignment vwith the reaches of said belts and in the other ot which the frame isA held substantiallv transifersely to said reaches.

ally mounted' frame for each belt upon which' said idler rolls are mounted, means to rotate said belts in one direction, Vmeans to frotates'aid beltsY in .the reverse direction,

means to produce a rictiona-l drag; between said belts 'and frames to cause said frame to be rotatedV in the direction 'of and by the rotation of the belts upon Aits 'pivotal axis, l

and means to stop the ,rotation lof said trames in either of two positions.

` edges.

'13. In a sausage twisting machine, a plurality 'oli' flexible endless belts each ofsaid belts being provided' with a plurality of apertures'to furnishr a pluralityof gripping;

14. In a sausage twisting machine, a, pair of endless belts, driving rolls, a pivotally mounted trame ftor each telt comprising e.

pair of spaced 'side pieces, idler'rollsrot'atably mounted between and terminating short of said side pieces, iXed'members eX- tending between the ends oiisaidI idler rolls and side pieces, said idler rolls and fixed members being constructed and arrange'dto form a substantially continuous surface over which said belts are trained, and thev side portions of said belts extending over said. fixed members to produce a trictional drag as said belts are rotated whereby saidframe will be rotated upon its pivotal aXis. l

l5. Inl-a sausage twisting machine, a pair oi cooperating movable former elements `to constrict the sausage casing, twisting means, l

means to drive said twisting means, manually operatedl means to connect the driving means to said twisting means-and means actuatedby said manually operated means to move said former elements into ,contact-`r ing relation.y

16. ln a vsausage vtwisting machine, la-pair y'of cooperating movable former elements,

means to normally hold said tormer elements in inoperative position, twisting means, driving 'm'eansfm'anually operated means to operatively connectsaid driving and twisting means, and means actuated'by said manually operated means to move rsaid former elements to an operative position.

17. vln a sausage'twisting machine,` apair or cooperatinoF movable former elements,

means to twist the sausage casing, 'driving means for said twisting means, means to connect said ,driving and'twisting means, means to automatically disconnect said driving and twisting means after a predetermined twisting operation, means to move said former' elements into operative contactingl relation simultaneously with the' actuation ot said twisting means and "means to release said former. elements before the completion of the twisting.

18; ln 'a sausagel twisting machine,a pair of 'cooperating endlessbelts, means'to cause the opposed cooperatingreachesot said belts to be moved into engagement rwith the sau sage casing, means to rotate said belts, av pair otmovable former elements adjacent each Y side ofsaidgbelts, meanstomovesaid former i elements into engagement `withisaid'casing isimultaneously with the engagement ot said belts 'and casing, and 'means'to release said former elements before the completion'ot the twisting operation.

19.*v ln a sausage twistingvm'aehine,l a plurality otendless belts'arranged in horizontally aligned seriesoi" vcooperating'pairs ot belts, a l ments mounted for longitudinal :sliding movement between'each `series of belts,` means to drive all of said belts in 'unisn, manual-r ly operable means to operatively connectl 'said beltsl and driving means, and means connecting said manually operable 4inii-ins pair of' intermediate forme-r eleand former 'elements constructed and ar-. lrangedto movesaidformer 7elements into contact'with the` sausage casing`r movement between'each series-of belts, means i to drive all of said belts in unison, manuab" ly operable meansl to operatively connect said-belts and driving means, and means 'sausage casing.

connecting said i manually. operable. means with all of said former elements constructed and arranged :to simultaneously vmove all said former elements. in contact with the 2l. ln a sausage twistinfJr machinewa luy rality of endless belts arranged in longitudinally alignedseries'of cooperating pairs of belts, the members of each pair of belts being spaced `longitudinally ofthe machine, and in transverse alignment with the cor-l responding belts of the adjacent series, a pair of plates movable longitudinally of the machine, located between each longitudinal series of belts, a plurality of former elements carried by each of said plates, the former elements of one member ofthe pair of plates cooperating with the former elements of the other member of the pair 'to constrict the sausage casing at spaced points in alignment with thespaces between each cooperating pair of belts. 1

22. A sausage casing machine as set forth in claim 21, in which means are provided to move the members ofeach pair of plates in opposite directions.

23. A sausage casing machine as set forth in claim 22, in which means are provided to normally hold said former elementsl in spaced inoperativel positions. y

24;. A sausagetwistin'g machine as set forth in claim 23, in which means are provided to move said former elements 4into contacting relation. i

25.. ln a sausage twisting machine, a plurality of endless belts arranged in` hori- Zontally aligned series of cooperating` pairs of vertically extending endless belts, the

vmembers of each pair of belts being spaced apart to receive'a sausage'casing between the vertical reaches thereof, intermediate form# ers between each series of belts, a removable frame upon which said sausage is threaded, end formers carried by said removable frame and a lifting carriage upon which said frame is placed after the sausages have been threaded thereon.

26. A sausage twisting machine as setV forth in claim 25, in which said removable frame is provided with means toI holdthe casing along spaced transverse lines adapted to be brought into alignment with the spaces between the belts.

o consisting of a centraland side'foriners con-k forth'infclaim 26 in :which saidremovable i .fraineand liftingv carriage aref-provided with ymeans to; locatef-saidjf framey with `the casings in lalignment'gwith ,the .spacesl be; tweenvthe belts? i u ,'28. In a' sausage twisting inach'iiieappl-ufv i ralityof endless-belts, intermediate formers, 1v,

mounted on` said removable.' frame andmeans toV more said end )formers upon th'eirplpivotal axis to release the'sausage"casing.,vy`

29. ln` a sausage. twisting machine, a pluv `ra'lity ofendlessbelts, intermediate..foriiiers, v 'a' removable frame upon.y which thesausage a removableframe uponavhicli'th'e sausage casings are threaded, endformers `pivotally 75" casings are' threaded*aiuplurality "of-end' formers mounted upona common pivotal' j axis at each side of the removableframe, and

means'fto moveall'ofthev foriners on' each? o side ofthe iframe in unison =to releaseithe sausage casings. f i i' I n i e0. In a sausage twisting machme,a.plurality vof endless belts, intermediate fermiers,

structed and arrangedA toljconstrict,` the vsausage casing atv a 'plurality ofV spaced points,

a removable Aframe having means to engage and support the` casing at" points "sub-'35 stantially coincidentwithpoints wherey the. o

casing is'constricted -by'said side formers 'v and the central portion of said removablev frame being open to permit the frame to be i placed over a smoke stick with' the .constricf tions caused byl thecentral formersin'en gageinent with the stick.

ico?

31. A sausage twisting. machine as forth in claim 25, in which said liftingc-arriage is provided with a track andsaid reengagel said track. i y

32. A sausagel twisting machine as set" forth in claim 25, in which said llifting car` riage and removable frame 'are provided with means to hold said frame iiralignmentV longitudinally andv transverselyiofthemachine. l

38. A; sausage` twisting .machine "as 'setf forain- Ciaim 25, `in whieiijinaanediat@ :,15 j

former elements are carried by said 'lifting carriage. f

. 34 In a sausage twisting machine, means to contract the casingsv at spaced intervals'- to divide them into links and means to'twist. y i the casings to securethem in linked condi!` tion comprising' a flexibleendless belt having i l, a plurality ofV apertures` to furnish a-pluralf ity of gripping edges.

35. ln a sausage twisting machine, means,v

to squeeze the sausage casing to div-ide it into links, 'means to twist the casing to se-` cure it in llinked condition,` and meansto cause said firstnamed means tobe releasedV before the completion of the twisting op.- eration.

movable frame is A'jrprwided Witl'lfl rollers `o `195` 36. In a sausage twisting machine. means to squeeze the sausage casing to divide it into links and means to twist the easings to securethem in linkedeondition, means to cause saidy squeezing and twisting means to be actuated into engagement with'said Cas,- ings and to release said'squeezing means before the release-of the twisting means.

tionship with said last named means to cause said squeezing means to squeeze said casing and remain in engagement therewith during ythe initial voperation of the twisting means but to release said easing before the completion of the twisting operation.

A'38. In ay sausage twistingmaehine, means to squeeze the sausage casing to'divide it into links and means to twist theeasings to seeure them in'linked condition, means to actuate said squeezing meansinto engagement with said 'casings, andmeans to actuate said -twisting'`means into `engagement with said easings, said squeezing and twisting actuating means being constructed `and arranged to operate in timed relationship to cause said squeezing means to engage the easings before the engagement of the twisting means to hold said easings until theyiare engaged by said twisting' means and to'releasesaid easings before they are released `loy said twisting means.

In testimony whereof I yhave atlixed my signature.

FERDINAND KRUsE. 

